Engine-starter.



W. F. ROHRBACHER.

ENGINE STARTER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 25, 19.11..

Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

v Attorneys W. F. ROHRBACHER.

ENGINE STARTER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 25, 1911.

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3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Witnesses W. F. ROHRBACHER.

ENGINE STARTER.

APPLlCATION FILED APR. 25, 1911.

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Specification of Letters Patent.-

Patented Mar. 21, $1916;

, Application and April 25, 1911; Serial No. 23,209.

The device forming the subject matter of this application, is adapted to be employed for giving an initial rotation to the shafts of internal combustion engines, to efiect a starting of the same. The primary object ofthe invention is to provide fluid-pressure actuated means for parting a rotation to the shaft of an in; ternal combustion engine.

- -A further object of the invention is to'pro vide a fluid-pressure actuatedmeans, work ing with resilient means, to efl'ect reverse rotations of an element, adapted to haveclutch and release connection with the shaft of an internal combustion engine, to effect a start- Other and further objects will be made manifest hereinafter, as the description of the invention progresses.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will ap earas the description proceeds, the inventlon resides in the combination and arrangement of. parts and in the details of construction hereinafter do scribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of inventionherein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without de parting from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings,-Figure 1 is a sectional plan of the device; Fig. 2 is a sectionalplan of the clutch and release mechanism, whereby rotation isimparted to the engine shaft from the fluid prwsure mechanism; Fig. 3

is an elevation of one of the elements which, forming a part of the structure shown in. Fig. 2, serves to actuate the engine shaft;

Fig. 4 is a plan of the spring whereby the parts are returned to normal positions, after the engine shaft has been actuated; Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of the valve whereby the fluid pressure portion of the apparatus is actuated; and Fig. 6 a sectional elevation of an auxiliary starting frame which may be employed in connection with the invention.

In thedrawings, a portion of the support-- ing structure'is shown, and denoted by thenumeral 1; The device forming the subject matter of this application, is adapted to be employed upon automobiles, air-ships, motor boats, and elsewhere, wherea hydro-carhon engine may be employed, and therefore the numeral 1 may be taken to indicate any portion of any one of the structures above referred to.

The engine is denoted by the numeral 2, the engine shaft by the numeral 3, the fly wheel by the numerai 4, and the radiator by the numeral 5. V

The invention further includes a tank '6, adapted to contain fluid under pressure. The manner in which fluid pressure is stored within the tank 6, is of no particular conse quence, and fluid pressure maybe supplied to the tank 6 in any desired manner. In the present instance, however, in order to present an operative structure, an air pump 7 is shown, the shaft'of which carries a friction "wheel 8, adapted to bear against the flying neck 11, rotatable in a head 12, formed at one end' of an arm 14, the arm l being secured to any portion of the supporting structure. The casing 10, therefore, maybe turned about at an angle in the-head 12, and '111 order to lock the casing 10 at its adjusted angle, a nut 17 is threaded upon the lower portion of the neck 11. The lower endof the neck 11 carries a removable nipple 15, adapted to receive one end of a connection 16 (see Fig. 1) the other end of the connection16 entering the tank 6.

.Fixed to and upstanding from the casing 10, is a standard 18,, upon which is fulerumed, intermediate its ends, a lever 19, to one end of which is pivoted a rod 20, carrying a foot plate 21.

' That end of the lever 19 to which the rod adapted to engage, the upper end of a stem 22, slidable in a neck 23, fashioned upon the about the stem 22 being prevented by means casing 10, the leakage of the fluid pressure p f i taineduplifted, so as to close the port 26, by

neck 23, and bears against the casing 10. The lower end of the stem 22 passes through a a port 26 formed in the lower portion of the casing 10, and communicating with the interior of the neck 11. About the port 26 there is a rib 27, projecting into the neck 11, the rib 27 being adapted to be engaged by a packing ring 28, seated in the upper face of a head 29, secured to the lower end of the stem 22. The head 29 is normally mainmeans of a compression spring 30, the upper end of which bears against the head 29, the lower-end of the spring 30 bearing against the removable nipple 15.

That end of the lever 19 which is remote from the rod 20, is positioned above, and is adapted toengage, a stem 31, slidable'in a lug 32, fashioned upon the casing 10. To the lower end of the stem 31 is' attached a head 33, carrying in its upper surface, a packing ring 34, adapted to engage a rib 35, fashioned upon the casing 10, about a chamber 36 in the lug 32, there being ports 37, extending through the lug 32. The stem 31 is prolonged below the head 33, ,to form an extension 31, adapted to register in an opening 40, formed in a plug 39, inserted into a nipple 38, forming a part of the casing 10. The head 33 is adapted to be lifted, so as to close the ports 37, by means of a spring 41, the upper end of which bears against the head 33, the lower end of the spring 41 bearing against the lug 39, and surrounding the extension 31. Compared with the spring 25, the spring 41 is relatively weak.

At its extremity, the casing 10 may be provided with a removable nipple 42, adapted to engage one end of a pipe 43 (see Fig.

1) the pipe 43 entering a head 44, upon the forward end of a cylinder 45, supported in frame carried brackets 46. The head 44 carries a suitable packin gland 47, in which reciprocates a piston ro 48, carrying, within the cylinder 45, a cylinder head comprising a back plate 49, a resilient, cup-shaped disk50, a front plate 51, and securing nuts 52. In the rear head 53 of the cylinder 45 there are ports 54, having functions which will be described hereinafter. Adjacent its free end, the piston rod 48 carries a fixed shoulder 55, backed by a resilient buffer 56.

Secured to the free end of the piston rod 48, as shown'at 57, is one end of a flexible member 58, carried over a flanged sheave 59, journaled for rotation in a frame-supported bracket 60. -,The flexible member 58 is carried about the periphery of mflanged pri- -mary wheel 61, mounted for free rotation upon the engine shaft 3. The primary casing wheel 61 is equipped with a rearwardly extended hub 62, to which is secured, as shown at 63, a spiral spring 64, one end of which is carried by an attaching member 65, inserted into any suitable portion 66 of the frame 1. The primary wheel 61 is centrally .open, and carries, in its centrally open portion, a

ratchet 67, which may be fashioned integrally with the primary wheel 61. This ratchet 67 is adapted to be engaged by a se ries of pawls 68, pivoted in a centrally open secondary wheel 69, the wheel 69 being telescoped within thewheel 61. The wheel 69 is secured to the engine shaft 3 in any desired manner. In the present instance, the wheel 69 is secured to the engine shaft 3 through the medium of a key 100.

The wheels 61 and 69, and the spring 64 are housed beneath a casing 70, the casing 70 having a laterally extended shield 71, adapted to extend over the sheave 59 and over the flexible member 58.. The casing 70 terminates in a neck 72, upon which may be inserted a spring retained cap 73, housing the end of the engine shaft 3. That end of the engine shaft which is adjacent the cap 73, is centrally open, shaft 3 is threaded a plug 74. 1

The invention further includes an auxiliary starting crank, shown in Fig. 6 and denoted by the numeral 75. This starting 'crank carries a latch member 7 6, actuated head 29 from the port 26, the spring 30 being put under tension. This tilting of and into the end of the the lever 19 will free the lever from-the stem 31, whereupon the spring 41 will elevate the head 33, and close the ports 37. Under such circumstances, the fluid pressure from the tank 6 willtraverse the connection 16, the nipple 15, and the neck 11, the port 2.6,"the

thence enter the cylinder 45, in advance of the piston head therein. cumstances, the piston head will bev forced rearwardly in the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 1, the air in the cylinder 45 which is to the rear of the piston head,---passing out through the ports 54. When the piston head is thus actuated, the rod 48 will exert a .pull upon the flexible member 58, the same passving over the sheave 59, and rotating the prlmary wheel 61, theratchet 67 of which .will engage the pawls 68 of the secondary wheel 69, rotating the secondary wheel 69, and with it, the'engine shaft 3, to which the sec ndary Wheel 69 is attached. During this Under such cir- 10, the nipple 42,. the pipe43, and.

opv'ation, the spiral spring 64 will be put 'in Fig. 1.

has,teas nii-;jregatta ;the shaft 3 betate,j underimpul se from the enwi l fiy outw yy that theyf'n; longer l'igag*e with the ratchet .67.

After the operation hereinbefore' described the pistonhead in the cylinder head'45, the

spring 64 will rotate the loose wheel 61, and wrap the flexible member 58 about the wheel 61, the iston rod being drawnforward'l'y, and the piston head within the cylinder 5, being restored again to the position shown It is to be noted that before the lever 19 engages the steni 22, the stem 31 will be set free, and therefore, the ports 37 will close before the ports 26 open. Thus, in

' operation, there is no waste of fluid pressure through the ports 37 Conversely, the port 26 will be closed before the ports 37 are opened, and therefore the fluid pressure proceeding from the tank 6, will not oppose the fluid pressure proceeding, from the cylinder 15. I

The operation hereinbefore described, for imparting rotation 'to the engine shaft 3, may be repeated as long as there is any fluid pressure remaining in the tank 6. When the piston head in the cylinder 45 moves in the direction ,of thearrow A, the bufler 56 will engage with the gland 47-, and since this bufier '56 is resilient, there will. be no appreciable jar in the operation of the apparatus. By rotating the plug 74 in the endvof the engine shaft 3, a lubricant may be forced through purpose of oiling the loose primary wheel 61. It will be understood that the cap 7 3' may be removed, whereupon thelever 7 5 ma be placed upon the end of the'engine-shaf t, a rotation being imparted to the engine shaft manually, when desired, instead of employw ing the fluid-pressure actuated apparatus hereinbefore described.

as an exhaust,

When the lever 75 is used,-the1atch 7 6 will engage with a longitudinal groove in the center of the shaft 3, for the the engine shaft 3, as is common and well known in the art.

The spring 64, it is to be noted, tapers 'from its inner to its outer end. Owing to this construction, an even spring-tension will be secured, even under different degrees of winding.

When the piston moves in the direction of the arrow A under fluid pressure, the buffer 56 strikes against the gland on the forward end of the cylinder and thus the movement of the piston in' one direction is limited. When the movement of thepiston in the direction of the arrow A thus is suddenly arrested, the flexible element 58 loosens mo- Imentarily and tends to jump ofi the sheave 59. Should the flexible element thus be loosened from the sheave, the outer end of the extension 71 (which acts as a guard) will return the flexible element to the sheave 59. In addition to the foregoing, the outer end of the extension 71 acts as a rotection for the sheave 59 when the latter is rotated. Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is In an engine starter, ,a shaft, a wheel rotatable thereon and having a hub and rim projecting in opposite directions, a second wheel disposed upon the shaft within the rimof the first mentioned wheel and having a hub and rim projecting in opposite directions, the rim of the second mentioned wheel projecting toward and closely adja- 4 cent the first mentioned wheel, a flexihle element wound upon the .rim of the first mentioned wheel and adapted to be unwound for rotating said wheel, the hub of the sec- .ond mentioned wheel being secured to the shaft, a spiral spring arranged adjacent the outer sideof the first mentioned wheel and having its inner end secured to the hub of said wheel, the outer end of said spring being anchored, the first mentioned wheel having a ratchet projecting toward and adjacent the second mentioned wheel, and pawls pivoted to the inner side of the second mentioned wheel and coiiperable with \the ratchet.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

H. BANrmLn. LE0 SHINDLER. 

